THE Unserved Areas Electrification Unit and Government Electrical Inspectorate which fall under the supervision of the Ministry of Public Works, on Thursday, hosted a workshop targeting electrical engineers and contractors at the Umana Yana where presentations were made on improving electricity standards.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds noted that in the early 1860s there was not any electricity, and the path being treaded now is the one developed countries pursued in the improvement of their electricity sector.
In this regard, the Prime Minister emphasised that the electricians have an opportunity to make a contribution to Guyana’s development just like those in the early generations to take their respective nations forward. He called on the workshop’s participants to do so with a sense of service to the people while assisting them to meet their needs in the least expensive, but at the same time safe manner.
Public Works Minister, Robeson Benn noted that there has been tremendous growth in the sector and the workshop was aimed at reviewing how to respond and better the electrical standards. He urged that the new principles be adapted as quickly as possible, in keeping with the fact that professionals in the field are behind in some aspects and there is need for the transition of the entire body.
Chief Executive Officer, Hinterland Electrification Programme, Horace Williams explained that for the last three years, steps have been taken to introduce new regulations and wiring standards. This process started with consultations in various parts of the country with contractors to raise awareness about the new requirements.
Since then, the Government Electrical Inspectorate has been gradually introducing various aspects of the regulations and standards. In this regard, Thursday’s workshop sought to engage electrical contractors to make them more aware of the requirements for safe electrical installations.
During the session, the participants looked at grounding since many people do not understand the importance of that aspect of electrical installation, and even the electrical contractors sometimes overlook its importance. This is being emphasised because grounding protects from electric shocks and some amount of lightning strikes. 
Another area of importance is the working space for electrical equipment, as some contractors have a tendency of putting panel boards within tightly cramped spaces, making it difficult to access the panels.
Williams is also encouraging building owners to engage licensed electricians for their electrical installations. (GINA)